John Carl Buechler, a multifaceted individual, was born in Belleville, Illinois, and his life was marked by a passion for filmmaking that spanned his entire career. He made a name for himself as a writer, producer, director, and special effects artist, and his journey to the director's chair was a unique one, as he rose to fame through his expertise in make-up effects.
Buechler's fascination with special effects began at a young age, and he went on to form his own company, Mechanical Imageries Inc., which specialized in creating special effects for science fiction and horror/fantasy films. He was renowned for his impressive make-up work, but he also made his directorial debut with the fantasy film The Dungeonmaster in 1984.
The following year, Buechler directed and designed the special effects for the fantasy film Troll, which was a major success during its theatrical release in 1986. He continued to work with Charles Band's Empire Pictures, producing and directing several films, including Cellar Dweller in 1988.
Buechler's work as a director eventually led him to helm the seventh sequel to the iconic Friday the 13th franchise for Paramount Pictures. Friday the 13th: The New Blood, released in 1988, was a box-office success, despite Buechler's initial reservations about directing the film.
Throughout his career, Buechler continued to work on special effects and direct films, many of which were released straight to video. In a quote to Premiere Magazine, he reflected on his approach to directing, saying, "if you can pull a performance out of a piece of latex, you can do it with actors...."
Sadly, John Carl Buechler passed away on March 18, 2019.
